You probably already know October through early December is Medicare Annual Enrollment Season. That’s the time most people think about reviewing or changing their Medicare coverage for the upcoming year. But here’s the twist a lot of people don’t realize: there’s another window that runs right through January into the first quarter of the year, and it matters more than you might think.
The Fall Enrollment Gets You Ready for January
Most Medicare beneficiaries use the Annual Enrollment Period (that’s Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) to pick or change plans, whether that’s Medicare Advantage, switching from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, adding or swapping Part D prescription drug coverage, or moving back to original Medicare. Anything you choose by Dec. 7 kicks in January 1 of the following year.
So if January 1 is the obvious date that pops into your head, you’re exactly right. That’s when coverage changes from the fall take effect. But there’s more on the calendar.
January 1–March 31: The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
Here’s where people sometimes get tripped up: once the new year starts, there’s a second chance for people already in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. From January 1 through March 31, you can make one change. You can:
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to original Medicare (and add a Part D drug plan if you want)
This isn’t a do-anything, anytime window, it’s specific to Advantage plans, and you only get one change in this period.
That means if you jumped into an Advantage plan in October, and once it kicked in January 1, you realize it’s not working for you, this is your shot at a fix without waiting almost another year.
What If You Missed It All? General Enrollment Still Exists
If you didn’t sign up when you were first eligible, and you didn’t take advantage of a Special Enrollment Period (like one triggered by losing other health coverage), there is still one more window for Original Medicare. That’s called the General Enrollment Period, and it runs January 1 through March 31 too. During this time, you can sign up for Parts A and B if you missed earlier deadlines, but your coverage won’t start until the month after you enroll, and you may face penalties for signing up late.
This period is really a last resort, not your go-to option, so don’t plan on it unless you absolutely had no other shot.
What This Means for You
January isn’t a dead zone. It’s a second chance for certain Medicare decisions. That’s important:
- If you already picked a plan last fall and it’s not fitting your needs, don’t just grit your teeth until next October. You might have options through March 31.
- If you didn’t act in the fall, and you’re already in an Advantage plan, you still have a little runway to tweak your coverage.
- If you missed all of it, talk with a professional before March 31, enrolling during the General Enrollment Period might still be possible, but you want to understand what you’re signing up for.
Your Plan Is Not Set in Stone
Health needs change, costs change, and sometimes we just look at a new plan and think, “Hmm… this isn’t what I thought it would be.” That’s okay. January gives you an extra window to rethink and adjust. But don’t let it pass you by. Once March 31 hits, the door closes until fall again.
If you want personalized help navigating these deadlines or understanding how changes in coverage might impact your overall retirement plan, we’re just a phone call away. This isn’t something you should guess about.
